Compounding effects of wildfire and forest management on Canada lynx: The importance of management mosaics

Abstract

In subalpine forests of the western United States, wildfires are becoming more frequent, severe, and widespread. In response, land management agencies are intensifying their efforts to reduce fire risk and severity, mitigate economic losses, and restore burned areas. These efforts, which include prefire tree removal, and postfire clearcutting, salvage logging, and planting, have varying impacts on wildlife. Sensitive species like fisher, spotted owl, and Canada lynx depend on structurally complex mature forests, and their habitats are often disturbed by forest management and by wildfire. To balance the need for improved forest resilience with the need to conserve sensitive species, land managers must understand the combined effects of wildfire and forest management on forest-dwelling wildlife.

Citation

Olson, Lucretia; Crotteau, Justin; Squires, John. 2023. Compounding effects of wildfire and forest management on Canada lynx: The importance of management mosaics. Science You Can Use (in 5 Minutes), June 2023. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p.